Battlemouth

One of my major issues with musicians of all genres is that they seem to take themselves way too seriously. They claim that their music is the “gateway to their soul” or some deep nonsense like that. I am glad to say that none of this applies to a band that has quickly become one of my favorites.
Hailing from the hot as hell state of Arizona, Psychostick was officially formed in the year 2000, recording their first demo in 2001. The band has had many members come and go over the years, but the current grouping has to be the best yet. The band presently consists of Rawrb (vocals, and yes, that’s no typo), Josh (guitar), Alex (drums), Jake (guitar), and Jimmy (bass). Psychostick prides itself on its use of hard rock riffs mixed with hilarious vocals, goofy song concepts, and lots of hilarious on-stage antics. I’m sure you’ve had enough of the boring biography crap, so let’s get on with it. How did I discover Psychostick for the first time, you ask? Great question! I didn’t think you’d ask.
My destination for the evening was the Middle East in Cambridge, Massachusetts. I had the distinct pleasure of experiencing a live show by Peelander Z and Powerglove three months prior to this night, so I pretty much knew what to expect. Before those two headlining bands, they would send out a few bands of which not many people have ever heard. I don’t usually come away thinking much about anything more than the bands that I came to see. After the first band finishes their set, we wait around impatiently for the next band to hurry up and finish so we can get to the good stuff. Before we know it, the break ends. The lights go dim. The familiar sound of….well damn….what the hell is that song called? The one were the Griswolds are running to Wally World all excited and whatnot. You don’t know either? Oh well, anyway. That song, it plays as the five members of Psychostick enter the stage…in slow motion. At that point, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but I had a feeling it was going to be good. The band entertained us with their branch of music, which they so proudly call, “humorcore.” According to their website, humorcore is a blend of comedy, metal, and hardcore. Anyway, this is a review right? Let’s get on with it!
The latest offering from Psychostick, “Sandwich,” is loaded with hilarious songs and short skits that will fill your need for great rock riffs and general hilarity. With 23 tracks ranging from songs about food (there are a lot of them) to a humble track about how awesome they are (“P is the Best Letter”) to a song thanking 373 fans, by name, who donated money to help finance the band’s efforts, this album will keep you entertained from beginning to end, and around again. I could sit here and tell you how great it is, but I’m sure this line from “P is the Best Letter” will sum up their feelings. “God we fuckin’ rule!” Well put Rawrb, well put.
Since this is my review, I probably should give my opinion…or I’m sure Battlemouth wouldn’t let me do this anymore. Many of the songs consist of normal topics mixed with the band’s crazy sense of humor. Track 2, “Shower,” expresses the virtues of showering and being clean. The most creative track, and ultimately the one that led to the peculiar name of the album, is called “This is Not a Song, It’s a Sandwich!” Through the lyrics, you guessed it; they try to explain why it is not a song that you are listening to but a sandwich! Probably a chicken sandwich, those are awesome! They’ve even included a generic rock song entitled “#1 Radio Single,” a humorous attempt at mocking the basic structure of other generic rock songs. I would go over more of the songs, but you need to stop being so damn lazy. Listen to the CD already!
If you love metal and/or hardcore and you have a great sense of humor, this CD is for you. While I would recommend seeing them live, you should at the very least give this CD a shot. I guarantee you will instantly become a fan of Psychostick or one of “The Dumb” as they have so affectionately named us.
Be sure to check out the other great offerings of Psychostick. For more information on Psychostick, you can visit their website, www.psychostick.com. They also have a great MySpace page, www.myspace.com/psychostick, where you can get a sampling of what has made them one of the most entertaining acts in the United States.